Improved self-acting cotton-press



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN GROUT, OF HOOKING CITY, OHIOY IMPROVED SELF-ACTING COTTON-PRESS.

b Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13.060. dated June 12, 18535.

ful lWIachine for Pressing Hay, Cotton, Cheese,

Tobacco, and for the general purposes of a press; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication.

Figure I is a perspective View. Fig. 2 is a reduplication of the catch L, to show its construction,which in the perspective View is hid.

To enablel others skilled in similar arts to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I use two upright pieces, a a, which constitute the sides of the press. At the lower ends of these sides a cross-piece, O, is framed in, upon which the floor of the press is placed. At the top of the said upright pieces the crosspiece Fis framed in, whichV passes through the rectangular pieces A A, so as to turn freely in them. These two rectangular pieces are made fast to the top and side timbers of a building or room, one leg being placed horizontal and the other perpendicular, and the whole press is suspended upon these, so as to swing freely. Uponthese angular pieces A A,

at points below the axis F, are attached two.

levers, B B,with shoulders or catches d e, prepared on one side, as seen in the drawings. A movable beam, II, passes through the sides aa, moving freely up and downin them through spaces cut out for the purpose. Then as the press is swung out from the perpendicular to an oblique position, the levers are drawn along upon the beam H, bringing the catches right to take hold and thrust it down as the press is swung back to its former position. Here the small catches LL,which are attached to the sides a a, hold the beam fast'while the same operation is repeated. The moving power is applied by the hand, the pulley, the wheel and axle, or any of the known expedients for producing similar motions to suit the purpose required and the kind of power to I be employed. The material to be pressed lies between H and O.

This press, though here described as Suspended, may be placed in a horizontal position and swing about a Vertical axis.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction of a press designed for the' general purposes of a press, so arranged as to swing freely about an axis of motion, and having a lever or set of levers with their fulcrums within the said aXis'of motion, so that when the press is swung out in one'direction the said levers are brought into such a position relative to the other parts that they take hold of the beam and thrust it down as the press is swung back to its former position, and in a manner which allows the operation to be re peated until the degree of pressure desired is attained, substantially as above set forth and described.

JONATHAN GROUT.

XVitnesses:

G. H. EDMoNDs, Cus. I?. WANNLL. 

